10 Days in Greece, Opa!

This post is quite overdue. I can't believe it has been nearly a month since my spring break ended, it feels like so much longer than that. Now that we have 7 more weeks left of school I feel the need to look back in order to hopefully give me the motivation to keep going forward. The end of the school year is tough on teachers and kiddos alike. So without further ado, here's my recap of my time in beautiful Greece!

I arrived in Athens on a gray and rainy Sunday morning without any real plans and totally unprepared for the chilly temperatures. Living in the desert for two years has crippled my ability to accept and properly prepare for cold weather, so I had only packed one long sleeve shirt and one pair of pants in my efforts to travel lightly. Big mistake, but I persevered. Arriving at the airport, I knew better than to fall into the trap of taking a taxi and getting 'taken for a ride', so I opted to take the metro into the city to find my hotel. After an hour on the train I got off at what I prayed was the right stop (in the freezing rain) and miraculously made my way the two blocks to the hotel without getting lost, go me! My hotel was really nice and close to the metro which allowed me to explore the city relatively easily. It was a little daunting that very little of the signage around town was written in English, it was like being functionally illiterate, but I managed.

During my time in Athens, I got to see some of the historic sites

Temple of Olympian Zeus

I had quite the adventure getting to the Acropolis and didn't actually manage to get to see it. I took the metro to the neighborhood within walking distance of it, Monostiraki, and decided to walk around and see the sights before actually heading to the Acropolis.

There was a flea market with all kinds of stores selling clothes, jewelry, wine, and things made from olive oil and the wood from olive trees.

the obligatory gyro/souvlaki

So after a little eating and shopping I decided to head over to the Acropolis. I didn't realize it was an almost 2 mile walk. Up hill. Luckily the weather was nice and the walk wasn't too bad, but when I got to the top I found that the gates were about to close. Stupid military time. The website said that it closed at 15:00 which I incorrectly interpreted as 5pm, and I arrived around 2:45 so I got to see the outside of the buildings and then start my walk back down the hill. Boo.

Herodes Theater

Another interesting thing that happened was on my last day in Athens. I took the metro to Syntagma Square to go to McDonald's because a) I like cheeseburgers a lot, and b) free wifi. So I was enjoying both in the second floor eating area when I noticed police in riot gear standing in the middle of the street. I didn't really think too much of it because I had noticed that police in Athens seemed to like to ride around on motorcycles and gather in large groups outside of coffee shops and restaurants to smoke and talk, kind of like a gang. But then other people started to gather and they had big sticks and chains and posters that I couldn't read and they looked kind of agitated and were yelling something as well. At that point I decided I should probably get out of there because I know better than to stick around when police and protesters get together. No sooner than I had gotten up to leave, the manager came in and asked everyone to leave because they were closing. It was a 24 hour McDonald's. Stepping out of there was like stepping into the weirdest scene ever. There were the police in riot gear, people marching and protesting, some people stopped to watch while others just went on about their business, and none of this stopped the homeless folks outside the metro station from their performances of Michael Jackson songs. I'm glad I made it to my hotel safely.

After that, it was time to catch a 20 minute flight to go and see what Santorini was all about. I may be a little biased because I've only visited one of Greece's over 200 islands, but I think Santorini is the best. It really is breathtaking. And super romantic.

the view from my balcony

at the top of Fira

I spent 6 lazy days exploring around Fira and Kamari and I couldn't have enjoyed doing nothing more.

I ate gelato

I drank bubble tea

I ate breakfast made by a cute little old Greek lady on this terrace by the beach

I laid out on the black sand beach

I went to the red sand beach

And I laid out by this lovely pool and read a bunch of books I don't remember :)

And then when I was just about ready to call it quits and go home, there was an airline strike in Athens and I got to spend one more day in beautiful Santorini! Winning!

Its Hard Out Here For A POC

Okay, so, I wrote this post almost a year ago and didn't really know if I should publish it. I still don't know if posting it is a good idea but I'm having a YOLO moment. Enjoy.

When I first decided to move to the Middle East I thought that it would be a great opportunity to live some place where black and brown people were not the minority. I wanted to know what it was like to be a member of the majority so to speak.  Not that I actually felt like I was a minority back home in the states, to be honest I didn't really think about my race (or anyone's really) all that much at home but I knew that moving half-way across the world could change that.  

With all of the recent events regarding people of color and their treatment in society (Mike Brown, Trayvon Martin, and too many others to name), I feel somewhat ashamed to admit that I never really thought about race relations prior to or during my adult life.  I've never been a victim of blatant racism, at least not to my knowledge.  I can't imagine how it would feel to know that you're being treated unfairly just because your skin is a different, darker color than someone else's.  How infuriating must it be to not only be treated that way, but to then feel that there is nothing you can do about it? And what if it happens not just once but on random occasions throughout your life? 

Living here in the UAE as an african american woman is kind of like...constantly being reminded that you're different and even sometimes "less than" others. The country is a melting pot of different races, cultures, and religions. In my school alone there are over 80 different countries represented, and within the UAE the large expatriate population makes it possible for one to interact with people from other races and cultures on a daily basis. What a great platform for recognizing the differences that we all have and embracing them, but at the same time appreciating and respecting them. Although that sounds good in theory, it is not always practiced. I've seen others talked down about for their differences and worse, people distancing themselves from what they deem to be 'different'.  How can anyone learn and grow with those attitudes?

What I have learned and noticed about people here is the need to differentiate themselves based on outward appearances and material objects. In the land of 'oil money' where everyone has money, and all kinds of things can be easily gotten with a phone call or a flash of some cash, people set themselves apart by buying expensive cars, dressing in fancy clothes, and some by employing foreign nannies and drivers for their children.  Many of these things offer convenience to people who can afford them, but I think they also have a way of distancing people from reality.

So what does this have to do with being an african american woman in an Arab country? Some would probably say nothing, but to me having and using money to set yourself apart from others creates the illusion of power and the feeling that one is somehow better than another which is often the catalyst for racist behavior.  I guess I thought that when I moved here there would be some sort of solidarity amongst myself and the Arabs here (we're all brown, damnit!). While I have met my share of nice and genuine people, I still get mistaken for domestic help more often than I'd like.

Goals Not Resolutions

With the start of a new year many people have been making and sharing their new year resolutions, usually having to do with health, wealth, or both. I don't necessarily believe in making resolutions, but I do believe in setting goals for yourself throughout the year. Being the planner and constant thinker that I am, I'm always looking forward to or planning something. Most of my planning has to do with travel of some sort, hence the name of this blog. And since I believe that words have power I felt it would behoove me to put my travel goals for the year out into the universe as a positive affirmation (if you say it it will happen), and a way for me to hold myself accountable throughout the year.

So, in no particular order here are my travel goals for the year:

1. Amsterdam, Netherlands

After reading a blog post from The Abu Dhabi Experience about their day trip to Amsterdam, I knew I had to visit. Museums, 165 canals that you can take boat rides in, cycling, and good food? Put me down for one of each! And since it's the only place on my list likely to see snow, I think it would be perfect for a fall/winter trip.




2. Casablanca and Marrakech, Morocco

Having visited two African countries in 2015 it only fueled my thirst to see more. I'm also a very big fan of visiting places of historical significance and Morocco definitely fits the bill. 

Casablanca

Marrakech

3. Lagos, Portugal

If there's one thing I love it's beaches and Portugal has plenty to choose from. My friend Lisa visited over Christmas break and her pictures were breathtaking. That's enough to put Portugal on my list.

4. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

For a while there, planes having to do with Malaysia were either falling or being shot out of the sky and that really did not encourage my desire to go there. But since there haven't been any major issues with flights there in the past year or so, and I know a few people who have visited recently without any trouble, I think it might be safe to go for a visit. I've had a few Malaysian students who make some pretty persuasive arguments for visiting (food, culture, beaches, oh my!), and their dads are both pilots who say it is a must see. I won't be flying Malaysia Airlines though!

5. The Dead Sea, Jordan

It's got major religious implications, is the lowest point in the world, and according to the Smithsonian it's shrinking and may disappear by 2050. In addition to that, the minerals in the dead sea are said to be great for your skin, which totally piques my beauty junkie interest.

So that's it for now. It's a working list so things may change over the next...361 days, but at least I've got an idea of where to focus my planning. My first trip this year will be to a place not on the list, Greece. All my travel last year earned me enough frequent flier miles for a free flight for spring break, go me! Only 82 more days to go :)

Happy New Year!!!

Without a doubt, 2015 was one of my best years ever! I got to visit 6 countries, built stronger friendships (lost some too but c'est la vie), saved some money and met some really special people. My YOLO year turned out to be really great, and with God's grace 2016 will be even better, insha'allah.

Anywho, I wrapped up my year of travel with a trip to Zanzibar that was so enchanting I can't wait to go back. My hotel was right on the beach and ooh honey, I got bronzed! This trip was definitely what the doctor ordered.

look at that sunrise!

I arrived at 5am and was exhausted, but on the hour long drive to the hotel the sun started to rise and I knew that this was going to be a good trip. My hotel was a small group of bungalows owned and run by a local man named Eddie who was both hospitable and hilarious. My little bungalow had only the basics, a bed with mosquito net and a small bathroom, but it was perfect for what I had planned, which was utter relaxation. My door was literally steps from the beach and the hotel restaurant where I ate every day. 

Everyone knows how much I love animals, no trip is complete without some sort of animal interaction for me. So I researched and found this awesome animal sanctuary called Cheetahs Rock that allows you to actually pet and interact with the animals there. They only allow 15 people per day, and the owner personally walks you through and tells you about the animals and each of their own histories and at the end you're able to have a champagne toast with her cheetah, Tyson. I was all in!

feeding Maurice the bush baby some spaghetti

Mango the lemur eating sticky fruits

training Chaka

Manfred

All the animals had pretty sad stories, but it was clear that Jenny, the owner, really cared for them and the well-being of all animals. Maurice the bush baby had fallen out of a tree as a baby and was not able to be rescued by his mother, Chaka the zebra had been born in a zoo in Germany where the keepers were going to put him down simply because he was getting older and they didn't have room for him (a surprisingly common occurrence in zoos across the world), and Manfred was rescued from a local who used him to earn money by taking pictures with tourists. He was afraid to come over and eat from me because my brown skin apparently reminded him of the person/people who had abused him prior to arriving at Cheetahs Rock. Jenny made it a point to give me the container holding his fruit so that he would have to come closer to me to get his food and therefore learn to get over his fears. He eventually did come over to me and ate all the fruit in the bowl, but he would go back and forth and never stay close enough for me to touch him. Jenny said that this type of monkey was normally very vocal, but Manfred made not a peep while we were there and hadn't made any sounds at all in the 9 months that he had been there, a testament to his fragile mental/emotional state. Heartbreaking. These kind of monkeys are also very social animals, so lets all pray that Manfred gets a friend to live with very soon. 

feeding Aslan the white lion

he was really a big baby

Gizmo the Striped Hyena

All of the animals were really cute and affectionate, and I learned to look at them not as scary predators but as misunderstood animals. Aslan the lion was huge and looked like he could kill me with one swipe of his paw, but he was really a big baby. He sat and pouted near the fence while we went into the enclosures for the bush babies and lemurs like a puppy waiting to be played with, and like most babies, he was more than happy to have his daily milk. We didn't get to go into his enclosure, for our own safety, but I can't help but think he might've rolled over and let us rub his tummy like Gizmo the Striped Hyena (above) did if we could have.

And last but definitely not least, the evening ended with...

Tyson! I never would have imagined that I would be sipping champagne in a wild cheetah's home, and yes it was every bit as awesome as it looked. We all got a chance to sit and pet him and have our photos taken while Jenny answered any questions that we still had. It was a once in a lifetime experience and if you're ever in Zanzibar I highly recommend you pay Jenny a visit.

I. Am. In. Love!

The rest of my time in Zanzibar was spent relaxing and exploring other parts of the island. I started out with a trip to Blue Lagoon Beach, which was every bit as enchanting and magical as the name sounds, and then went to the iconic Rock restaurant in Michamvi and watched the sun set by the mangroves.

The Rock restaurant (it's low tide)

The next day we went to Paje Beach and watched the kite surfers, had coffee and samosas at a trendy little coffee shop called Mr. Kahawa, and I learned to how to play Bao.

Masai man selling jewelry and souvenirs

not to brag but it was my first time playing and I won :)

On the days that I stayed at the hotel I napped a lot, was able to read 3 books, walked the beach looking for shells, and hung out in one of the many hammocks on the property. It was, in a word, perfect.

fishermen, I think

octopus is one of the main foods eaten in Zanzibar

low tide, you can walk out as far as you can see (a good time to look for clams and octopus)

On Christmas Eve we took the hour long journey into Stonetown to do some shopping. It was considerably more hot in Stonetown because we didn't have the benefit of any breezes from the ocean, so all day I felt like I was melting. But I got to see the Freddie Mercury House, go to the market and wander countless winding alleyways looking for art and clothes, and have lunch at Forodhani park.

Freddie Mercury House

I was not at a loss for any Christmas decorations

here kitty kitty

making new friends like a boss

While we're here, I must say that Stonetown had some beautiful doors. Don't ask me why I paid attention to that, I'm weird. But look...

On Christmas day I fulfilled my lifelong dream of chilling in a hammock listening to the ocean waves wearing a red bikini. I also highly recommend that as well. In the evening, the hotel had a bbq buffet for all the guests and one of the french men that was also staying there brought out his didgeridoo and started playing it and his granddaughter started playing the flute. All the members of his family, I'd say there were at least 20 of them, got up and started dancing like it was the most lit party they had ever been to. It was highly confusing to my non-intoxicated brain. I guess it was their YOLO year too maybe.

        

Sandy the Snowman

Christmas full moon

And that was my time in Zanzibar folks! I will definitely be going there again this year :)